New Sauvie Island bridge opens Monday

[Chief]

http://1190kex.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=123543&article=3861069

The old bridge will be recycled
By Mark Workhoven
Monday, June 23, 2008

Vehicles were scheduled to begin crossing the brand new Sauvie Island bridge for the first time, Monday at noon. On Sunday there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a parade to celebrate the new span. The 42 million dollar crossing replaces the old one, built in the 1950's. The Portland City Council did discuss moving the old bridge to NW Portland and using it as a pedestrian crossing over 405, but it was decided that would be too expensive. The old bridge will be cut up and recycled instead.

**SCHNIPP**

This has been a long time in coming! Finally the wieght restrictions that have been in effect for at least five years now can be lifted and commerce return to normal on Sauvie Island.

We will have to make a trip over there to see what's for sale in the Farmer's Markets...

mrgrn

[Waterbuffalo]

I told my room mate and a couple of friends about the fine Sauvie island quisinarte (menargie of food items) selection over there in case they did not find what they were looking for here in Clark or Cowlitz County farmers markets.

Yeah, you had to tell me about this place last year and no doubt I'll be looking over there soon enough if I cannot find some fresh items here some of of the other local editions of farmer's markets.

rcrn This one should be so appropos..

[Chief]

Best place I know to go summer berry picking. The blackberries and Boysenberries ought to be great this year after such a cool wet spring...

[Waterbuffalo]

Oh so tempting Chief? Berries, berries and more berries?

Now how much can one think that scrap steel minus the lead paint and other potential hazzards on it go for?

Would love to see if there would be a contest to see how much who ever took that bridge down with get for all that wonderful scrap from the bridge.

[Chief]

That old bridge likely has a pretty good price on it for scrap, because when the steel was made, it was likely made straight from iron ore with little if any scrap in the melt. That makes the metal more pure, and worth a lot more.

Trust me, which ever contractor gets the job of removing and hauling the old bridge will get as much as they can for the scrap. They would do well to lift the old span off with a barge and float it to some secure place to dismantle it, to protect it from the meth-heads out there who are stealing metal left and right...

[Waterbuffalo]

Do you think they should get armed guards? From the history of the meth heads I would expect no less than numerous attempts to dismantle that bridge without any environmental concerns by the meth heads.

Wonder if they might try portlable torches?

[Chief]

Like I said, the best way to take it apart, and likely the only way, is to float another barge in and lift the old span off it's foundations, and take it away to some secure place to dismantle it.

It's that or the dynamite, and I doubt they want to fish the pieces out of the slough...

mrgrn

[Waterbuffalo]

What the Portland environmentalists do not need a fourth of July celebration with fireworks? I think it sounds so Kosher don't you?

Add fireworks and explosives to the bridge and watch it go into bits on its way down?

[Chief]

Can't do it without blocking the navigation channel through there. All those people in their houseboats in the area would never stand for that.

[Waterbuffalo]

Why not? ;-p

They would get a free fireworks show for the price of free admission off their boats.

Heck, I bet it could be a very interesting celebration right after the Fourth in Vancouver?